I am wondering if we might see UA replace the first class seats on its Premium Service 757s with the new international business class that they are beginning to install. The Premium Service Seats are the SQ Spacebed design and are lie flat seats. However with 68'' pitch, there is almost room to go fully flat with the new business class seats. Does anyone know the seat pitch of the new UA seats? UA could get a bit more space by shrinking the new closets the put in behind the first class cabin. They probably could keep the same 12 seat configuration. UA's next generation of business class seats are better than the first class seats on the PS 757s.

they will not in my mind upgrade the seats because the max flight time on a P.S. flight is 7 Hours and on a 747 and 777 you can have 12-26 hour flights double the time so the lie-flat seats are not needed to be upgraded for the shorter flights also the new F seats are very heavy and it would take up too much space in the a/c only 2 to a row instead of 5

[Edited 2008-01-13 11:13:37]

"Learn the rules, so you know how to break them properly." -H.H. The Dalai Lama

I'm not sure that the length of a flight is the detemining factor so much as profitability which in this case will be driven by how many of the new seats they'd be able to fit in a 757 versus a wide(and longer)body.

Quoting Stitch (Reply 3):UA's "Spacebeds" still beat AA's First Class on their 767-200s, so I think UA is content to hold the line.

I agree with that. However offering a fully flat seat in first class might help differentiate it from the business class seats on the PS 757s. That might make people want to pay the more expensive fare.

I agree that such at move would likely be predicated by AA. However after UA finishes refitting the international fleet, it might make sense to look at PS.

If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!

Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 5):I agree with that. However offering a fully flat seat in first class might help differentiate it from the business class seats on the PS 757s. That might make people want to pay the more expensive fare.

As is, the Spacebeds are nicer then the Business Class seats on the p.s. 757s, which are based on the style UA is phasing out on their widebodies.

Now, should AA decide to improve their product on the 767-200s, that would almost certainly force UA to respond, since p.s. has boosted paid First and Business Class travel a not insignificant amount.

They've said numerous times in the past that they plan to stay ahead of the curve with PS and continually improve the product. I would expect to see some changes within the next 12-24 months - given the changes in the international line.